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Friday, 23 November 2012

Lokpal report tabled in RS; Parliament faces adjournments

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Lokpal report tabled in RS; Parliament faces adjournmentsClean Media CorrespondentNew Delhi, Nov 23 (CMC) The Rajya Sabha's select committee report on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas was tabled amidst din in the Upper House on Friday. The bill was tabled amidst ruckus created by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members who were demanding reservation in promotion. The Rajya Sabha was later adjourned till 2.30 pm over the issue of foreign investment in multi-brand retail.After its passage in the Lok Sabha last year, the bill faced opposition hurdles in the Rajya Sabha on various provisions, following which it was referred to the Select Committee. The panel, which was to submit its report during the monsoon session, adopted it on November 19.The department of personnel and training, which piloted the bill, will have to approach the Union Cabinet on the recommendations made by the committee.Now, the bill will travel back to the Lok Sabha for approval of the amended version.Despite suggestions by the law ministry during depositions before the Committee suggesting 'insulation' to officials of the PMO, the committee, headed by Satyavrat Chaturvedi, has not recommended any changes.The Prime Minister, who is sought to be covered by the proposed law, is, however, exempted from the ambit of Lokpal on issues of external and internal security, atomic energy, international relations and public order.The select committee is learnt to have not recommended any change in the provision relating to "reservation".The original provision said 'not less than 50% of the members of Lokpal would be from SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women.The committee's report said "these provisions merely aim at providing representation to the diverse sections of the society in the institution of Lokpal..."and only indicates "the quantum of representation and not reservation".Parliament adjournment continuesLok Sabha was adjourned till Monday and Rajya Sabha till 2:30 on Friday amid uproar by Trinamool Congress members over the issue of FDI in retail and Congress members citing reports claiming that BJP had influenced the CAG report on 2G allocation.In the Lok Sabha, soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh introduced new members in his council of ministers, Trinamool Congress members trooped into the Well demanding rollback of the policy to allow FDI in retail sector.BJP members were on their feet shouting slogans against FDI and demanding a discussion on the issue. Members of Left parties were seen in the aisle waving booklets on the FDI.A lone TDP member was seen in the Well showing a placard and pressing for separate Telangana state."I will allow you to speak. Go back," Speaker Meira Kumar told the members who were unrelenting.Amid din, she adjourned the proceedings till noon and then till Monday.In the Rajya Sabha, the moment chairman Hamid Ansari called the House to order, BSP supremo Mayawati was on her feet demanding a bill to provide for reservation to SCs and STs in promotions in government jobs.Her party colleagues led by Brajesh Pathak rushed to the Well shouting "aarakshan vidhayak pehle lao, pehle lao" (bring reservation bill first).BJP members led by M Venkaiah Naidu too were up on their feet raising the issue of FDI in retail sector. Some of its members displayed copies of a business newspaper that carried a report saying Bharti Walmart had suspended its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as it investigates alleged violations of US anti-bribery laws."No posters please," Ansari ruled, even as SP members too joined the din. Slogan shouting by BSP members drowned all other protests in the House. As noisy scenes prevailed, Ansari adjourned the House till noon and then 2:30pm.